1946 – All games are played at night for the first time in major league history, four in the American League and four in the National League.
On May 4, 1943, Commissioner Ford C. Frick demonstrates that the revised balata ball is livelier than the previous year’s ball by bouncing it on a carpet in his office. The major leagues had turned to the balata ball because of wartime restrictions on the supplies used to make standard baseballs.
1943 – The major leagues approve a new official ball manufactured by the Spalding Company for the upcoming season. Instead of the usual combination of cork and rubber, the inside of the ball is made up of recycled cork and balata, materials not needed in the war effort. Officials insist the ball will have the resiliency of the 1939 ball, but the players will express dismay that they cannot drive the new ball and point out the dearth of runs and homers in 1942 even with the old ball.
On July 17, 1934, Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees draws the 2,000th walk of his career, becoming the first player in major league history to reach the milestone. Ruth will eventually retire as the game’s all-time leader in bases on balls with 2,062, a record that he will hold until it is surpassed…